The story focuses on the perspective of Josie (Alia Shawkat), an L.A. rocker dealing with the sudden and shocking death of her boyfriend, Michael. Things get even worse when Michael's unhinged mother Meredith (Janet McTeer) contacts her, and a nasty clash erupts between the two.
Even as dark and grimy as it is, this film is exquisitely shot and glowingly artful with its crisp framing, lush colors, and high-contrast lighting. It's akin to the beautiful ugliness and punky edge of Jeremy Saulnier's Green Room (Alia Shawkat appeared in that movie, too). The film also exhibits some highly stylized editing, often breaking into surreal hallucinatory sequences that exude the polish of fashion ads, and other times fading in and out of meditative flashbacks.
The moody narrative is a true slow-burner, reflective of Josie and Meredith's hostile relationship. Tension boils and tempers flare, while Alia Shawkat and Janet McTeer both give greatly anguished performances as deeply opposing characters.
Sometimes Paint It Black drips a bit too slow for its own good, but in the end, it lingers and lingers and lingers...
( 7.5/10 )
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